Wrexham downhill racer signed up by elite team

A Commonwealth Games hopeful from Wrexham has been taken under the wing of a successful mountain biking team.

Phoebe Hughes has her sights set on the 2018 Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast in Australia.

Already successful in cross-country mountain bike racing, the talented 15-year-old has joined the ranks of Oneplanet Adventure’s mountain bike team, which is based at Coed Llandegla Forest, near Wrexham.

She said: “Mountain biking has always been my passion but I’ve never had the time to compete.

“My goal now is to compete at the highest level by putting in a lot of effort and commitment.”

The youngster began mountain biking when she was six but in the past few years she has enjoyed success in triathlon competitions.

But now she has made the move back to what she calls her “true love” of mountain biking and regularly trains on the renowned mountain bike trails in the Llandegla forests with her dad Steve, as well as receiving coaching from Welsh Cycling.

In addition to her Commonwealth Games hopes and Oneplanet Adventure team selection, Phoebe is also involved in Welsh Cycling’s Wiggle 2018 Project, set up to find talent across all cycling disciplines ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Dan Ellis, team manager at Oneplanet Adventure, said: “We are really pleased to have Phoebe as the new addition to our race team.

“She’s already had some fantastic results and her future is looking bright. Everyone here wishes her well for what we are sure will be an amazing season.”

Currently Phoebe is gearing up for the National Championships in Shropshire on July 20 and the fifth round of the Welsh MTB XC Series at Coed y Brenin in Snowdonia on September 7.